NU Concludes Spring with Wichita State

Lincoln - The Nebraska volleyball team looks to improve to 3-0 on the spring when the Huskers take on Wichita State on Saturday, April 16 at the NU Coliseum. First serve between the Huskers and Shockers is set for 3 p.m., while tickets are on sale for $5 (reserved) and $3 (general admission). Saturday’s match will be the first meeting between the teams since last year’s NCAA Tournament, when Nebraska ended WSU’s season with a second-round victory.

Saturday’s match will mark the third of five spring matches for the Huskers, as Nebraska already has posted wins at Hawaii (3-2 on March 18) and against 2004 NCAA runner-up Minnesota (3-0 on April 9). Nebraska had originally planned to take on Minnesota and Northwestern in Minneapolis next weekend, but will conclude spring drills this week.

Huskers Playing Spring Short-Handed
Nebraska is down to seven healthy players for the remainder of the spring schedule, as Michelle Lynch and Tracy Stalls both have had surgery in recent weeks. Both will miss the remainder of the spring, but should be healthy in time for the start of fall camp in August.

Mancuso Moves to Libero
In the hopes of increasing depth at the libero position this spring, Head Coach John Cook has experimented with moving outside hitters Jennifer Saleaumua and Dani Mancuso to libero. Salueamua played the position during Nebraska’s first two spring matches, and had 22 digs in NU’s win at Hawaii and nine digs in the sweep of Minnesota. Mancuso, who had eight kills and nine digs in last Saturday’s win over the Golden Gophers, began her training at the position on Monday and will make her debut at libero on Saturday against Wichita State.

Last Week: Nebraska 3, Minnesota 0
Christina Houghtelling and Sarah Pavan combined for 24 kills on .381 hitting, as Nebraska swept Minnesota, 30-14, 30-16, 30-13 in front of a crowd of 1,521 at the NU Coliseum on April 8. The Huskers dominated the match against the Golden Gophers, last season’s NCAA runner-up, out-hitting Minnesota, .302- (-.071), while also recording nine aces while holding the Golden Gophers without an ace. Houghtelling hit a match-high .471, recording 11 kills on just 17 swings, while adding six digs and a match-high four blocks to pace NU. Pavan, last year’s national freshman of the year, totaled a match-high 13 kills while chipping in a pair of service aces and three blocks. In all, the Huskers out-blocked Minnesota, 9-6, and had 44 digs - including a team-high 12 by Dani Busboom ? compared to Minnesota’s 32.

Huskers Comeback against Hawaii in Spring Opener
Nebraska 3, Hawaii 2: All-American Sarah Pavan had a match-high 22 kills, as Nebraska rallied from an 0-2 deficit to defeat Hawaii, 26-28, 20-25, 25-22, 27-25, 15-10 to win its spring exhibition opener in front of 6,538 at the Stan Sheriff Center. Pavan, who hit .246 and had six blocks, was one of five Huskers who posted 10-or-more kills against the Rainbow Wahine. Christina Houghtelling finished with 15 kills, 13 digs and six blocks, while Dani Mancuso had 13 kills, including the final two points of the match, as the Huskers broke a 9-all tie in the finale with a 6-1 run.

The Huskers also got strong performances from middle blockers Melissa Elmer and Tracy Stalls, who each added 10 kills. Elmer recorded a match-high 10 blocks, while Stalls added seven blocks and four assists. Dani Busboom had 59 assists and 13 digs, while All-American Jennifer Saleaumua had 22 digs and two service aces in her first match at libero.